Ken Graves: MSO Prinicpal Clarinet

Ken Graves, Principal Clarinet of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra since 2010 has collaborated with leading musicians of today including Sir Neville Marriner, Leon Fleisher, James Conlon, John Williams, Paavo Jarvi, and Leonard Slatkin. He has performed chamber music with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and has appeared with the Colburn Chamber Music Society.

Ken has participated in nationally recognized music festivals such as the Music Academy of the West, the National Repertory Orchestra, Spoleto Festival USA, and the National Orchestral Institute. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and his Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California. He has also attended the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles.

Originally from Mount Pleasant, SC, Ken began his clarinet studies at age 11. He made his orchestral solo debut at age 15, performing Crusell’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1 with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra as the winner of its concerto competition. His principal teachers include Yehuda Gilad and Richie Hawley.

In his free time Ken enjoys roasting coffee, playing golf, and watching baseball and football games on TV with friends.